Ceretto urges Assembly to follow State Senate's lead and legalize MMA in New York

by jmaloni

UPDATED Press release

Fri, Mar 8th 2013 08:05 am

Assemblyman John Ceretto meets with Ronda Rousey, the UFC women's bantamweight champion, at the State Capitol in Albany.

Assemblyman
John Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, ranking member on the Assembly tourism
committee, is calling on the State Assembly to follow the Senate's
lead and pass legislation to legalize mixed martial arts in New York.
Ceretto said the sport is expected to generate more than $5.2 million
in economic activity per year in Western New York, plus additional
revenue for the state.

"New
York state is missing out on an opportunity to generate revenue,
create jobs and strengthen our tourism industry," Ceretto said.
"MMA is a proven draw, and I look forward to the day when venues in
Niagara Falls and throughout the region have the ability to host
these exciting and profitable events. I urge my assembly colleagues
to legalize MMA and help bring needed jobs and revenue to Western New
York."

"Just
as Nik Walenda's tightrope walk brought throngs of people to the
Falls last year, I am confident that live MMA events will help drive
tourists and their dollars to the region," Ceretto added.

••••••••

Senate
approves mixed martial arts legislation

The
New York State Senate passed legislation Wednesday to legalize and
regulate mixed martial arts competitions in New York state. The bill
(S.2755),
sponsored by Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-I-Rome, would allow single
discipline martial arts organizations to hold professional
competitions in New York and gives the State Athletic Commission the
jurisdiction to regulate professional mixed martial arts promotions,
participants, bouts and exhibitions.

Griffo
said he believes that official recognition of the sport in New York
is overdue.

"It's
long past time that we officially sanction this sport in the state,"
he said. "For five years, I've been making the case that the
numbers don't lie; bringing MMA events to New York state will have
a tremendously positive impact through the jobs that can be created
and the spending that will stimulate the economy."

The
sport has the fastest growing fan base of any sport in the world. In
America, 47 states allow MMA matches, including New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, California and Florida. The most notable of the
professional MMA leagues, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is also
the most heavily regulated. Since 2001, UFC has employed strenuous
rules and regulations to protect its athletes, including medical
testing and safety requirements more rigorous than those in
professional boxing.

"New
York needs to capitalize on opportunities that would continue
strengthening our economy," Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos
said. "I applaud Sen. Griffo for leading the charge to legalize MMA
in New York to help create new jobs, generate revenue, and bring our
state in line with nearly every other state."

A
2008 study reported that a UFC event in New York City would generate
$11.5 million in new net economic activity: $5.3 million in direct
event spending, $1.4 million in non-lodging visitor spending, and
$4.9 million in indirect/induced benefits. UFC events would produce
substantial employee compensation: UFC events require more than 300
staff working on the event, equivalent to the creation of 88
full-time local jobs per event. The 2008 study found that a UFC event
in Buffalo would generate $1.7 million in direct event spending, $1.4
million in visitor spending, and $2.1 million in indirect/induced
benefits.

Griffo
also said that the increase in MMA amateur bouts statewide should
spur legislative action.

"The
popularity of the sport and increased number of MMA competitors
hailing from New York has inspired unregulated amateur bouts
throughout the state," Griffo added. "We'd be better served to
have the State Athletic Commission as the recognized authority to
properly regulate bouts. Right now, New York-based fighters are
unable to participate in bouts in their home state, but can travel to
nearly every other state to do so."